After a long gap of five years, the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata is set to host a Test match once again, with India scheduled to take on South Africa in the first of a two-match Test series this November. The last time the historic venue hosted red-ball cricket was in November 2019, when India played its maiden pink-ball Test against Bangladesh under lights.
Interestingly, the Eden Gardens was not originally scheduled to host this clash. The venue was initially earmarked for the second Test of India’s home series against the West Indies in October. However, the BCCI has reshuffled the schedule, moving that fixture to the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi and awarding Kolkata the marquee Test against South Africa.
According to officials from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), this swap is seen as a compensatory move after Eden Gardens missed out on hosting the IPL 2025 final due to weather concerns, with the summit clash shifted to Ahmedabad.
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The last two Tests at Eden Gardens—against Sri Lanka in 2017 and Bangladesh in 2019—offered assistance to pacers. However, with a formidable South African pace attack expected this time around, the Indian think tank may push for a surface that favours spin, to create a decisive home advantage.
Curator Sujan Mukherjee confirmed that preparations are already underway. “A good track with a decent grass cover will be prepared,” he told The Telegraph. Two central pitches are being prepped, and instead of a full relaying, top-dressing with a sand-soil mix is being carried out to enhance pitch health and improve grass density.
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Mukherjee also indicated that if the Indian team management seeks a more spin-friendly wicket, the ground staff is fully prepared to meet those requirements. Meanwhile, the outfield will undergo coring to ensure a uniformly lush green appearance come match day.
